Door or other body part of a motor vehicle

ABSTRACT

A door or other body part of a motor vehicle comprises an inner skin panel ( 5 ) and a preferably painted outer skin ( 2 ), which is fastened to said inner skin panel. To improve such a door or another such body part, the outer skin ( 2 ) is fastened to the inner skin panel ( 5 ) by means of punch rivets ( 11 ) or other fastening elements. (FIG.  4 )

[0001] The invention relates to a door or another body part of a motor vehicle.

[0002] The doors and the other body parts of a motor vehicle usually comprise an inner skin panel and an outer skin, attached to said inner skin panel. The outer skin and the inner skin panel must be painted. According to a prior art method, the outer skin is fastened to the inner skin panel by means of a bead and built into the body for subsequent painting. Not until then are the other functional elements affixed in the door or in another body part. During the assembly of these functional elements one must pay attention that the already painted outer skin is not damaged. Thus, the assembly must be carried out very carefully. Nevertheless, it can happen that the painted outer skin is damaged during assembly.

[0003] The object of the invention is to propose an improved door or an improved other body part of a motor vehicle.

[0004] The invention solves this problem with the features of claim 1. The door or the other body part of the motor vehicle comprises an inner skin panel and a preferably painted outer skin. The outer skin is fastened to the inner skin panel by means of punch rivets or other fastening elements. Thus, it is possible not to fasten the especially painted outer skin to the inner skin panel until the end of the assembly process, thus to fasten to the inner skin panel, after the other functional elements have already been assembled into the door or into the other body part. The functional elements can be assembled with greater ease and speed. In particular, it is no longer necessary to pay attention to the sensitive painted outer skin when assembling the functional elements. Moreover, this outer skin cannot be damaged during the assembly of the functional elements, since it is assembled last. Another advantage lies in the fact that the outer skin can also be disassembled, if necessary. This feature constitutes a special service related advantage.

[0005] To fasten the outer skin to the inner skin panel, all of the fastening elements that facilitate the fastening process at the end of the assembly sequence are suitable. Especially advantageous are fastening elements. Punch rivets have been especially successful in everyday practice.

[0006] Advantageous further developments are described in the dependent claims.

[0007] It is advantageous for the inner skin panel to exhibit a bend in an end region. The bends can run at right angles. However, it is also possible for the bends to exhibit a larger angle, for example, of 135 degrees. With a bend, which can also be called an offset, the goal is reached that the outer skin and the inner skin panel are spaced apart in the center of the door or the other body part and that they can be connected together in their edge area. Furthermore, the stability in the edge area can be increased. Finally it is also possible to achieve a covering in the hinge area (below the mud guard) or in the area of the axis of rotation of the door.

[0008] Another advantageous improvement is characterized in that the outer skin exhibits a bend or offset in an end area.

[0009] Another advantageous improvement is characterized in that the outer skin projects over the inner skin panel and is bent. Thus, the area projecting over the inner skin panel can be bent, whereby this area is bent preferably inwardly. Thus, the goal is reached that the outer skin is rounded off in its end region. The bend can be at any arbitrary angle, for example 90 degrees or 180 degrees, whereby, of course, any other angle of curvature is possible.

[0010] Preferably a seal is provided between the inner skin panel and the outer skin.

[0011] Furthermore, the invention relates to a motor vehicle, which comprises a door, according to the invention, and/or another body part, according to the invention.

[0012] Embodiments of the invention are explained in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0013]FIG. 1 is a side view of a door of a motor vehicle.

[0014]FIG. 2 is a view along the line A-A in FIG. 1.

[0015]FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a detail X of FIG. 2.

[0016]FIG. 4 is a view along the line B-B of FIG. 1; and

[0017]FIG. 5 is a view along the line C-C of FIG. 1.

[0018] The motor vehicle door 1, depicted in FIG. 1, comprises a painted outer skin 2, an inner skin panel (not visible in FIG. 1, since it is covered by the outer skin 2), a frame 3 and a pane 4. The door 1 of the motor vehicle can be pivoted around the vertical axis Z.

[0019] In the central area of the door of the motor vehicle the painted outer skin 2 and the inner skin panel 5 run parallel to each other and at a distance a from each other, as evident from FIG. 2. The distance between the painted outer skin 2 and the inner skin panel 5 is reduced by the bend 6 of the inner skin panel 5 in the end region of the motor vehicle door.

[0020] Further outside the bend 6 (thus further to the left in the drawing of FIGS. 2 and 3, there is another bend 7 of the painted outer skin 2 and the inner skin panel 6. The painted outer skin 2 and the inner skin panel 5 exhibit here two opposing bends of 90 degrees or more. The bends are formed in such a manner that the distance, which is now very small, between the painted outer skin 2 and the inner skin panel 5 in the offset legs 8 remains the same at first and then becomes somewhat less in the end legs 9. In the area of the end legs 9 a seal 10 is provided between the painted outer skin 2 and the inner skin panel 5. Furthermore, in this area the painted outer skin 2 is connected by means of a punch rivet 11 to the inner skin panel 5. In this respect the length of the outer edge of the painted outer skin 2 and the inner skin panel 5 exhibits several punch rivets.

[0021] The axis of rotation z of the motor vehicle door is located in the area, marked with an X in FIG. 2, where the hinges of the door are fastened. There another outer body part (mud guard) 12 adjoins the painted outer skin 2. Said other outer body part aligns with the painted outer skin 2; and its end, facing the painted outer skin 2, is bent by 180 degrees. The end legs 9 lie, as depicted in FIG. 2, below the end of the body part 12 (mud guard).

[0022] The bottom edge of the motor vehicle door 1 is formed, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Here, too, the distance a in the center area of the motor vehicle door is reduced by means of a bend 12 of the inner skin panel, whereby the bend 12 is in essence equivalent to the bend 6. The outer skin 2 projects over the inner skin panel 5. Its end 13, which projects over the inner skin panel 5, is bent inwardly by 90 degrees. The end areas of the painted outer skin 2 and the inner skin panel 5 are connected together by means of punch rivets 11. Furthermore, this area exhibits a seal 10 between the painted outer skin 2 and the inner skin panel 5.

[0023]FIG. 5 depicts the design of the rear vertical edge of the motor vehicle door 1. Here, too, the outer skin 2 projects over the inner skin panel 5. The end 14 of the outer skin 2 that projects over the inner skin panel 5 is bent by approximately 180 degrees or less around the end of the inner skin panel 5. Between the inner skin panel 5 and the outer skin 2 there is a seal 10, which envelops the end of the inner skin panel 5 on both sides or on one side.

[0024] The invention provides a motor vehicle door or another body part of a motor vehicle that facilitates the assembly of the painted outer skin without beading. The assembly is simplified with punch rivets. All functional elements are easily accessible and can be assembled easily. The outer skin can be assembled last. Furthermore, disassembly of the outer skin is possible (service advantage). Provided is independence from on-line painting. The invention can be realized in an inexpensive manner. 

1. Door or other body part of a motor vehicle with an inner skin panel (5) and a preferably painted outer skin (2), which is fastened to said inner skin panel, characterized in that the preferably painted outer skin (2) is fastened to the inner skin panel (5) by means of punch rivets (11) or other fastening elements.
 2. Door or other body part, as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the inner skin panel (5) exhibits a bend (6, 12) in an end area.
 3. Door or other body part, as claimed in claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the outer skin (2) exhibits a bend (8) in an end area.
 4. Door or other body part, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer skin (2) projects over the inner skin panel (5) and is bent (13, 14).
 5. Door or other body part, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized by a seal (10) between the inner skin panel (5) and the outer skin (2).
 6. Motor vehicle, characterized by a door or other body part, as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 5 . 